Department of Parks and Recreation to Begin E-Bike and E-Scooter Pilot Program

Department of Parks and Recreation to Begin E-Bike and E-Scooter Pilot Program

Riverdale, MD – As of November 1, 2019, The Maryland – National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Department of Parks and Recreation launches a pilot program to permit electric bicycles (e-bikes) and electric scooters (e-scooters) on certain hard surface trails. The Prince George’s County Planning Board approved the park directive* at the October 31st Planning Board meeting.

The pilot program will span 6 months through August 1, 2020, with the option to extend the program for an additional six months. The intent of the directive is to evaluate the use of e-bikes and e-scooters on selected hard surface park trails to determine if the pilot program should be made permanent, rescinded or modified to be best integrated into parks’ countywide hard-surface trail system.

The pilot encompasses e-bikes and e-scooters that operate by rechargeable battery. The e-bikes will have pedals and users can engage the electric power only when they are pedaling, and have a maximum speed of 15 mph. All e-scooters operated under the pilot program must be limited to a 15 mph speed limit. Allowable E-vehicles include VeoRide Inc. shared vehicles and personal E-vehicles: Bikes - Max. 500 watts.

Trails to be included in the pilot program include the following hard surface bicycle and pedestrian paved trails:

Please visit pgparks.com for more details. We welcome your comments or questions at the Department of Parks and Recreation’s Parks Open Town Hall Forum. Visit pgparks.com/opentownhall.

*A park directive is a policy tool defined and described in Chapter I, Section 3 of the Park Rules that authorizes the Director of Parks and Recreation in the county to propose a rule change to allow a particular activity on parkland in one county for a specified period of time.